Modified Boot

ABSTRACT

Articles of footwear, such as for example combat boots or the like, can include one or more features that facilitate use of such articles of footwear by a wearer who has suffered an injury to a lower extremity. The injury can include amputation or loss of at least part of the wearer&#39;s original lower extremity or, optionally, a weakening of the lower extremity in a manner that requires the wearer to use an external brace. Both prosthetic devices and external braces can present difficulties to a wearer in using a conventional combat boot or other article of footwear. Implementations described herein include addition of a second opening apparatus to allow the open end of a shaft of a combat boot or other article of footwear to be increased in size to accommodate a bulkier lower extremity.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter described herein relates to boots and other footwear, and in particular to boots and other footwear having one or more features that facilitate the process of putting on and removing the boot or other footwear.

BACKGROUND

Many modern wars have been largely asymmetrical in nature with opposition forces striking indirectly against forces of a formal military through ambushes and the use of concealed explosive devices against dismounted infantry or troops traveling in unarmored or relatively lightly armored vehicles. Advances in personal protective equipment and modern combat medicine as well as the ability to rapidly evacuate wounded personnel to full-service battlefield surgical facilities for treatment of catastrophic injuries have resulted in a much higher rate of survival for injured combatants than was typical in previous wars. These factors have combined to significantly increase the numbers of surviving wounded service members who have suffered from loss of one or more limbs or parts of limbs. Many of these individuals are wiling, able, and eager to continue to serve and to continue to wear the uniform of their branch of the service. However, prosthetic limbs, in particular prosthetic legs and feet, generally create difficulties in wearing one or more parts of a standard military uniform, in particular a standard combat boot, which rises relatively high up on a wearer's ankle. Use of such a combat boot can require bending and contorting of a human foot to navigate into the shaft of the boot (e.g. the part of the boot that rises up the leg of the wearer above the foot).

In addition, other articles of footwear with one or more features in common with military-type combat boots (e.g. conventional hiking boots, fashion footwear such as women's or men's boots, or the like, can also present challenges to a wearer in negotiating a lower extremity of the wearer that is injured or otherwise at least partially inclusive of a prosthetic device into the shaft of the article of footwear.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, an article of footwear includes an upper disposed opposite a foot bed and configured to at least partially enclose a lower extremity of a wearer when at least part of the lower extremity is in contact with the foot bed and a shaft disposed nearer to a heel section of the foot bed than to a toe section of the foot bed. The shaft extends away from the upper in a direction opposite from the foot bed such that the shaft is configured to extend up and encircle at least part of the lower extremity of the wearer. The shaft includes an open end disposed at least approximately opposite to the foot bed and having an effective circumference comprising a circumference of a cross sectional area at least partially defined by material forming the shaft. A first opening apparatus is operable to cause first expansion of the open end and of an effective circumference of at least part of the shaft. A second opening apparatus is disposed on the shaft on a second side of the shaft. The second side is at least approximately opposed to a location of the first opening apparatus on the shaft. The second opening apparatus is operable to cause a second expansion of the open end and of the effective circumference. The second expansion is also at least partially additive with the first expansion such that the first expansion and second expansion in combination exceed a maximum extent of the first expansion.

In an interrelated aspect, a method includes opening a first opening apparatus of an article of footwear to cause first expansion of an open end of a shaft of the article of footwear and of an effective circumference of at least part of the shaft, and opening a second opening apparatus disposed on the shaft on a second side of the shaft that is at least approximately opposed to a location of the first opening apparatus on the shaft. The opening of the second opening apparatus causes second expansion of the open end of the shaft and of the effective circumference. The second expansion is at least partially additive with the first expansion such that the first expansion and second expansion in combination exceed a maximum extent of the first expansion. A lower extremity of a wearer is inserted through the expanded open end of the shaft of the article of footwear such that an end or support surface of the lower extremity contacts a foot bed of the article of footwear, and the first and second opening apparatuses are operated to at least partially reverse the first and second expansions, respectively, of the open end and of the effective circumference of the shaft.

In another interrelated aspect, a method includes forming a slit in a shaft of a combat boot. The shaft is disposed nearer to a heel section of a foot bed of the combat boot than to a toe section of the foot bed, and the shaft extends away from an upper of the combat boot in a direction opposite from the foot bed such that the shaft is configured to extend up and encircle at least part of the lower extremity of a wearer of the combat boot. The upper is disposed opposite the foot bed and configured to at least partially enclose the lower extremity of the wearer when at least part of the lower extremity is in contact with the foot bed. The shaft includes at least part of a first opening apparatus. The method further includes installing a second opening apparatus configured to control opening and closing of the slit and adapting the slit to form two second opposed edges configured to resemble the appearance of a rear side of an unmodified shaft of an unmodified combat boot. The adapting includes at least one of covering or otherwise affixing pieces of one or more of cloth, leather, an another material to at least one of the two second opposed edges such that the at least one of the two second opposed edges resembles a reinforcement of a seam on the rear side of the unmodified shaft of the unmodified combat boot.

In some variations or one or more of these aspects, one or more of the following can optionally be included in any feasible combination. The first and second opening apparatuses can optionally be operable in concert to configure the article of footwear to accept the lower extremity even when the lower extremity is at least one of bulkier, less flexible, and weaker than a second lower extremity of the wearer. The first expansion can optionally include separation of two first opposed edges of the first opening apparatus. The second expansion can optionally include separation of two second opposed edges of the second opening apparatus. The second opening apparatus can optionally include a zipper having two flexible strips of material carrying teeth configured to engage and disengage under the action of a slider. The two flexible strips of material can optionally be respectively attached to the two second opposed edges such that, when the second opening apparatus is in a closed or nearly closed position, the two second opposed edges are brought into sufficient proximity to at least partially hide the two flexible strips of material and the teeth. The two flexible strips of material can optionally be respectively attached to the two second opposed edges such that, when the second opening apparatus is in a closed or nearly closed position, the two second opposed edges remain separated by a flexible gap configured to accommodate one or more protuberances on the lower extremity. The shaft can optionally include a gusset that increases the effective circumference of the open end when the first opening apparatus and the second opening apparatus are both in a closed or nearly closed position, The increasing of the effective circumference can optionally be sufficient to accommodate one or more protuberances on the lower extremity.

Implementations of the current subject matter can provide one or more advantages. For example, a person who has lost or had amputated a leg, part of a leg, a foot, part of a foot, or the like can, using a boot or other footwear having one or more features consistent with the current subject matter, experience a substantially improved ability to put on and take off the boot or other footwear. Conventional footwear can typically include a single opening apparatus, such as for example a tongue and associated lacing, for opening of the open end of a shaft of a boot to accommodate the wearer's lower extremity during the act of putting on or taking off of the boot or other footwear. In contrast, an article of footwear having one or more features consistent with implementations of the current subject matter can provide a second opening apparatus for opening the open end of the shaft of a boot such that the open end of the shaft can be opened widely to receive a wearer's lower extremity without requiring substantial flexing of the lower extremity.

The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, show certain aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein and, together with the description, help explain some of the principles associated with the disclosed implementations. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing representative features of a conventional combat boot;

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B show a rear view and a rear quarter view, respectively, of an example of a modified boot showing one or more features consistent with the current subject matter;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the modified boot shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B;

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show a top view and a rear quarter view, respectively, of another example of a modified boot showing one or more features consistent with the current subject matter;

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B show rear views of a wearer of a brace and a modified boot consistent with implementations of the current subject matter;

FIG. 6 is a process flow diagram illustrating aspects of a method having one or more features consistent with implementations of the current subject matter; and

FIG. 7 is a process flow diagram illustrating aspects of another method having one or more features consistent with implementations of the current subject matter.

When practical, similar reference numbers denote similar structures, features, or elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional boot 100. Such a boot 100 can include a shaft 102 that rises up the lower extremity (for example over a foot and up the ankle and onto the calf) of a wearer of the boot 100 and at least partially encircles at least part of the lower leg of the wearer when the boot 100 is worn. The boot 100 can generally include a foot bed 104 configured to support a foot of a wearer of the boot when the boot is worn. The foot bed 104 can include a sole surface 106 configured to contact a ground surface or other surface on which a wearer of the boot 100 stands or otherwise rests his or her foot. An upper 110 of the boot 100 extends upward from the foot bed 104 to at least partially enclose a foot resting on or otherwise supported by the foot bed 104. The shaft 102 of the boot 100 extends upward from a portion of the upper 110 closer to a heel end 114 of the foot bed 104 than to a toe end 116 of the foot bed 104.

As shown in FIG. 1, a typical boot 100 can include a single, first opening apparatus. In the example of the boot 100 shown in FIG. 1, the first opening apparatus can include a tongue 120 positioned opposite the foot bed 104 and lacing 122 that includes one or more of laces, straps, ties, connectors, hooks or the like for securing the wear's foot within the boot 100 by applying tension or otherwise binding or restricting expansive movement of two first opposing edges 124 of a first opening controlled by the first opening apparatus. Only one of the two first opposing edges 124 is visible in the view of the boot 100 shown in FIG. 1. The tongue 120 can have an anchored end 126 disposed along the part of the upper 110 opposite the foot bed 104 and laterally between the heel end 114 and the toe end 116 of the foot bed 104. An unanchored end 128 of the tongue 120 opposite the anchored end 124 can be disposed proximate to an open end 130 of the shaft 102 through which the wearer of the boot inserts his or her foot. The first opening apparatus can include other features besides lacing and a tongue, such as for example clasps, straps, buttons, a zipper, or the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the lacing 122 can apply tension between a series of eyelets 132, loops 134, hooks, tabs, or the like to secure the two first opposing edges 124 at a desired distance to secure the lower extremity of the wearer within the space formed between the upper 110 and the foot bed 104 and within the shaft 102.

A cuff or upper edge 136 can terminate the shaft 102 at a rise distance somewhere along the wearer's lower extremity, typically but not exclusively between the ankle bone and the knee of the wearer. For example, on a combat boot, the cuff or upper edge 126 can optionally be configured to rise approximately 8 inches up a wearer's lower extremity from the foot bed 104. Other amounts of rise of the cuff or upper edge 136 of a shaft 102 are also within the scope of this disclosure. A seam can be formed on the side of the shaft 102 opposite from the first opening apparatus, and can optionally run along some length of the heel side of the shaft, for example approximately between the cuff or upper edge 136 and a rear heel reinforcement part 140 disposed closer to the foot bed 104. The seam can optionally be reinforced, for example with a strip of fabric or leather 142 (not visible in FIG. 1).

An uninjured soldier or other wearer of a boot 100 having a shaft 102 that extends a substantial distance up the lower extremity of the wearer (for example approximately a quarter or more of the distance up the calf from the ankle bone to the knee, approximately a third or more of the distance up the calf from the ankle bone to the knee, or further up the calf of the wearer) generally experiences little difficulty in inserting the required parts of his or her lower extremity (e.g. his or her foot and lower ankle and calf) through the shaft 102 of the boot 100 after loosening the first opening apparatus (e.g. the lacing 122 and tongue 120) positioned on the shaft 102 and optionally on the upper 110 of the boot 100. In contrast, an injured wearer, for example a wearer who uses a prosthetic member in lieu of or to augment or provide additional support to an amputated or otherwise missing part of the foot, lower leg, or the other injured part of the lower extremity can experience difficulty in manipulating the prosthetic member in a manner that facilitates the use of a conventional boot 100. For example, it is typically necessary for the wearer of a conventional boot 100 to point his or her toes or an additional part or parts of a foot in a direction toward the foot bed 104 of the boot 100 to allow the foot to navigate through the relatively narrow opening of the shaft 102, even if the shaft 102 is fully opened by operation of the first opening apparatus, for example by loosening of the lacing 122 and pulling back of the tongue 120 while expanding the distance between the two first opposing edges 124 to the extent possible within the constraints of the flexibility and expandability of the material forming the shaft 102 of the boot 100.

Certain prosthetic members or supports, which may be worn by a wearer with an amputated or otherwise missing or injured leg or part of a leg, can also include features that may not be shaped exactly like a foot. For example, a person with a missing or amputated leg can typically have several different prosthetic devices designed for different activities. Not all, or in some cases any, of these prosthetic devices may perfectly resemble the shape and size of the person's other leg or foot or of a foot or leg in general. Furthermore, a person with leg injuries who retains some or perhaps even most or all of the original biological tissue of his or her lower extremity leg might use a brace or other support structure that straps to or otherwise affixes to the lower leg. Such prosthetic devices, braces, support structures, etc. can cause at least part of the wearer's lower extremity to have one or more of shape and size dimensions that are not compatible with the design of a conventional boot 100 and that can cause difficulties for the person in wearing such a boot 100.

To address these and potentially other challenges that currently available footwear can present to a wearer, one or more implementations of the current subject matter provide a modified boot 200 that includes features to accommodate a wearer whose lower extremity either lacks the necessary flexibility, strength, etc. to navigate through the shaft 102 of a conventional boot 100 or whose prosthetic device, brace, support structure, or the like causes difficulties in putting on, taking off, or simply comfortably wearing a conventional boot 100 or other article of footwear having one or more comparable features.

FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 3 show multiple views of a modified boot 200 that includes one or more features consistent with an implementation of the current subject matter. A modified boot 200 can include a second opening apparatus, separate from and in addition to the single opening apparatus (e.g. a tongue 120 and lacing 122 as shown in FIG. 1) of a conventional boot by which the opening 130 at the top of the shaft 102 of the boot 200 can be widened to receive at least one of a foot and a prosthetic device of a wearer of the boot 200. As shown in FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 3, the second opening apparatus can optionally include a zipper, zip fastener, or the like (hereinafter referred to generally as a zipper) oriented to run at least approximately parallel to a vertical axis of the shaft 102. Other types of apparatus than a zipper, for example, one or more clasps, snaps, gussets, laces, straps, fasteners, Velcro™ strips, or the like, can be incorporated into the second opening apparatus. The second opening apparatus can optionally, as shown in FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 3, be disposed on an approximately opposite side of the shaft 102 from the first opening apparatus (e.g. the tongue 120 can lacing 122). For example, the first opening apparatus can be positioned on the front of the shaft 102 (e.g. the part of the shaft 102 closest to the toe end 116), while the second opening apparatus can be positioned on a back of the shaft 102 (e.g. the part of the shaft 102 closest to the heel end 114). In this manner, the second opening apparatus can be readily disguised or at least substantially hidden from being noticeable except from directly behind a wearer of the article of footwear.

If the second opening apparatus includes a zipper, the teeth and the flexible strips 204 and the slider can optionally be nylon or some other non-metallic material. Use of non-metallic materials can be advantageous for use of a modified boot in a combat zone or other environment in which explosive devices that incorporate magnetic triggers or other devices that emit or detect magnetic or electrical fields might be present. A lubricant, for example sewing machine oil or the like, can be applied to the zipper and optionally to other components of the second opening apparatus to assist in ease of operation of the second opening apparatus and to assist in resistance to grit, sand, or the like, which might inhibit facile movement of one or more components of the second opening apparatus. While the zipper shown in the figures of this application is operable between an open position with the slider 206 located nearer the foot bed 104 and a closed position with the slider located nearer to the open end 130, other configurations are also possible. For example, the zipper can include an ability for the slider to be associated only with one of the two parallel strips of fabric or other flexible material 204 in a manner similar to a zipper on a jacket. Operation of such a zipper can include inserting a loose end of one of the two parallel strips of fabric or other flexible material 204 into the slider 206 prior to moving the slider along both of the two parallel strips of fabric or other flexible material 204 to close the second opening apparatus.

In an implementation, the first opening apparatus can be disposed such that the two first opposing edges 124 are on a side of the shaft 102 closer to the toe section 116 than to the heel section and so that widening of the opening 130 at the top of the shaft 102 using the first opening apparatus causes separation of the two first opposing edges 124 to form an angle of separation that opens more widely near the cuff or upper edge 136 of the shaft 102 and a narrower opening closer to the upper 110 on the side of the shaft 102 nearer to the toe section 116. The second opening apparatus can be disposed on a side of the shaft 102 nearer to the heel section 114 of the modified boot 200 than to the toe section 116. In operation, the second opening apparatus can involve formation of a gap between two second opposed edges 202 running along at least part of the shaft 102. The formed gap can be larger nearer to the cuff or upper edge 136 than to the foot bed 104 of the modified boot 200. The two second opposing edges 202 can optionally be formed of leather, nylon, or some other fabric, and can optionally be formed of a similar or identical material to the outside of the shaft 102.

In an example in which the second opening apparatus is a zipper, the zipper can include two parallel strips of fabric or other flexible material 204 that each include or have affixed thereto a series of teeth. Each of the two parallel strips of fabric or other flexible material 204 can be affixed to one of the two second opposed edges 202. A slider 206 can be disposed between the two strips of fabric or other flexible material 204 and can be moveable in both an opening and a closing direction that are at least approximately tangential to the two parallel strips of fabric or other flexible material 204. Movement of the slider 206 along the strips of fabric or other flexible material 204 can cause the series of teeth on the two strips of fabric or other flexible material 204 to either disengage or interlock, respectively, thereby causing opening or closing, respectively, of the second opening apparatus. The teeth can optionally include one or more of metal or plastic or some other suitable material. The two strips of fabric or other flexible material 204 can optionally include a natural or synthetic fabric such as nylon, wool, leather, vinyl, steel or other metal mesh, or the like to which the teeth are affixed. The two strips of fabric or other flexible material 204 need not both be formed of or otherwise inclusive of the same materials.

In other implementations, the second opening apparatus can include a device other than a zipper. For example, the second apparatus can include a series of snaps, a second set of laces with or without a second tongue, Velcro™ fasteners, buttons, hooks, or the like. In the example of a zipper, the two strips of fabric or other flexible material 204 can optionally be recessed behind the two second opposing edges 202. For example, the two strips of fabric or other flexible material 204 can be positioned relative to the two second opposing edges 202 such that when the slider 206 is moved toward the fully closed position and the teeth on the two strips of fabric or other flexible material 204 are fully engaged to fully or at least partially close the second closing apparatus, the two second opposed edges 202 are brought into very close proximity to mimic the appearance of a strip of fabric or leather 142 such as can be present as a reinforcement of a rear seam on a conventional boot 100. In this manner, when the second opening apparatus is closed and the two second opposing edges 202 are brought into proximity, the boot can appear to at least casual inspection to be identical to a conventional boot 100 that lacks the second opening apparatus. This feature can be advantageous, in particular for an injured wearer who wishes his or her articles of footwear to as closely as possible resemble those of his or her comrades wearing conventional combat boots or other articles of footwear.

As noted above, features of a second opening apparatus that are similar to those discussed herein for a zipper can also be incorporated into second opening apparatus variations that do not use a zipper. In such an implementation of the current subject matter, the two second opposing edges 202 need not be similar in shape. For example, one of the second opposing edges can include a flap or flap-like structure that can resemble a strip of fabric or leather 142 such as can be present as a reinforcement of a rear seam on a conventional boot 100. This flap-like structure can include on an interior surface one or more first fastener features, such as for example the hook and eyelet portion of a Velcro™ fastener strip, a series of snaps or hooks, or the like. The other of the two second opposing edges can include one or more mating fastener features on an outer surface such that as the one of the second opposing edges 202 is brought into an overlapping position over the other of the second opposing edges 202, the one or more first fastener features and the one or more mating fastener features can interact, latch, attach, affix, etc. with each other to cause closure of the second opening apparatus in a manner that causes the second opening apparatus to externally resemble the strip of fabric or leather 142 such as can be present as a reinforcement of a rear seam on a conventional boot 100.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show two views of another example of a modified boot 400 having one or more features consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. In this example, the second opening apparatus also includes a zipper, although this is not a requirement. Unlike in the example of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 3, the modified boot 400 of FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B includes an accommodation for an expanded shaft 102. The two second opposing edges 202 of the modified boot 400 need not fully overlap the two strips of fabric or other flexible material 204 of the second opening apparatus to camouflage the existence of the second opening apparatus when the second opening apparatus is in a closed or nearly closed configuration. While it can be advantageous as noted above for a modified boot or other article of footwear including features similar to those discussed herein to as closely as possible resemble a conventional article of footwear, this advantage is not always feasible. For example, certain types of prosthetic devices, braces, or the like that can replace or otherwise augment or support the original tissue of a wearer's lower extremity can be substantially more bulky than the original tissue that is replaced or augmented by the prosthetic device, brace, or the like. Also as shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, a tab 402 on a slider 206 of a zipper associated with the second opening apparatus can optionally be oversized such that it extends outward by approximately an inch or more, or optionally by approximately an inch and a half or more or by approximately two inches or more

As a non-limiting example of further optional features of a modified boot consistent with implementations of the current subject matter, FIG. 5A shows a view of a wearer 500 of a lower leg brace 502 that extends down from the wearer's calf to near the ankle or upper foot. The lower leg brace 502 includes a set of protuberances 504, in this example two bolt heads, that can interfere with the closing of a modified boot 200 such as that of FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, and FIG. 3. In this case, the two strips of fabric or other flexible material 204 of the second opening apparatus of a can advantageously extend beyond the two second opposing edges 202 such that when the second opening apparatus is closed, one or both of the two strips of fabric or other flexible material 204 can flex or expand beyond the limits of motion of the two second opposing edges 202 to allow closing of the second opening apparatus despite the presence of the protuberances.

In another non-limiting example, FIG. 5B shows a modified boot 550 in which a gusset 552 is added to at least one side panel of a shaft 102 of the boot 550. The gusset 502 increases an amount of clearance provided within the shaft 102 even when the first opening apparatus and the second opening apparatus are both in a closed or nearly closed position. As shown in FIG. 5B, the addition of one or more gussets 502 can increase a total circumference of the open end 130 in a manner sufficient to accommodate one or more protuberances 504 on the lower extremity, for example external bolts on a prosthetic limb or external brace worn by the wearer. The gusset 502 or gussets can optionally be added as part of a method of making in which the shaft 102 is cut to allow more clearance at the open end 130 and a gusset 552, which can optionally be triangular in shape (or resembling of other shapes including but not limited to an oval, a parallelogram, a trapezoid, etc.), can be sewed into the shaft 102 to close the cut with additional material.

FIG. 6 shows a process flow chart 600 displaying one or more features that can occur in a method consistent with an implementation of the current subject matter. At 602, a first opening apparatus, such as for example a first opening apparatus similar to those discussed above (e.g. lacing 122 and a tongue 120, one or more hooks, a zipper, straps, Velcro™ strips, or the like) can be opened (e.g. at least partially loosened or otherwise undone) to cause a first expansion of an open end 130 of a shaft 102 of the boot or other article of footwear. The expansion of the open end 130 can also include separation of two first opposed edges 124 of the first opening apparatus to expand an effective circumference of the shaft 102 of the boot.

At 604, a second opening apparatus, such as for example a second opening apparatus similar to those discussed above (e.g. a zipper having two flexible strips of material 204 carrying teeth configured to engage and disengage under the action of a slider 206) can be opened (e.g. at least partially loosened or otherwise undone) to cause a second expansion of the open end 130 of the shaft 102 and of the effective circumference of the shaft 102 to a greater extent than is possible using only the first opening apparatus. It should be noted that the first opening apparatus and the second opening apparatus can be operated in any sequence within the scope of the current subject matter. The second expansion can be at least partially additive with the first expansion such that the first expansion and second expansion in combination exceed a maximum extent of the first expansion possible using the first opening apparatus alone.

At 606, the lower extremity of a wearer can be inserted through the expanded open end of the shaft 102 of the article of footwear such that an end or support surface of the lower extremity contacts a foot bed 104 of the boot. The term “effective circumference” as used herein should be understood to generally refer to a circumference of a cross sectional area that can be at least partially defined by the material that forms the shaft 102. As the open end 130 of the shaft 102 is expanded by operation of the first opening apparatus and the second opening apparatus and optionally by subsequent insertion of the lower extremity, the two first opposed edges 124 and the two second opposed edges can each respectively be separated to further expand the effective circumference. The first and second opening apparatuses can be operated at 610 to at least partially reverse the first and second expansions, respectively, of the open end 130 of the shaft 102 and of the effective circumference of the shaft 102. This operating of the first and second opening apparatuses can, for example act to secure or at least partially secure the shaft 102 around the lower extremity of the wearer by pulling the first two opposed edges 124 and the two second opposed edges 202, respectively, into secured or otherwise tensioned proximity.

A modified boot as discussed herein can be constructed in a number of ways. In one example, a conventional boot can be modified to include a second opening apparatus such as are discussed above. FIG. 7 shows a process flow chart 700 displaying one or more features that can occur in such a method consistent with implementations of the current subject matter. At 702, a slit can be formed in the shaft 102 of the boot 200. The slit can be disposed approximately opposite to a first opening apparatus, which can in some examples include a tongue and lacing. At 704, a second opening apparatus can be installed to control opening and closing of the slit. For example, the second opening apparatus can include a mechanism, such as for example a zipper, a set of hooks or fasteners, Velco™ attachment strips, or the like having features attached to each of the sides of the slit. At 706, the sides of the slit can be adapted to form two second opposed edges 202, which can be configured to resemble the appearance of the rear side of the shaft 102 of an unmodified article of footwear, for example by covering or otherwise affixing pieces of cloth, leather, or other material to the two second opposed edges such that the affixed pieces of cloth, leather, or other material resemble a reinforcement of a rear seam on a conventional boot 100. It should be noted that an article of footwear having one or more features as described herein can also be manufactured specifically to have both first and second opening apparatuses disposed on the shaft 102 of the boot 200.

The implementations set forth in the foregoing description do not represent all implementations consistent with the subject matter described herein. Instead, they are merely some examples consistent with aspects related to the described subject matter. Although a few variations have been described in detail herein, other modifications or additions are possible. In particular, further features and/or variations can be provided in addition to those set forth herein. For example, the implementations described above can be directed to various combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features and/or combinations and sub-combinations of one or more features further to those disclosed herein. In addition, the logic flows depicted in the accompanying figures and/or described herein do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. The scope of the following claims may include other implementations or embodiments. 

What is claimed:
 1. An article of footwear comprising: an upper disposed opposite a foot bed and configured to at least partially enclose a lower extremity of a wearer when at least part of the lower extremity is in contact with the foot bed; a shaft disposed nearer to a heel section of the foot bed than to a toe section of the foot bed, the shaft extending away from the upper in a direction opposite from the foot bed such that the shaft is configured to extend up and encircle at least part of the lower extremity of the wearer, the shaft comprising an open end disposed at least approximately opposite to the foot bed and having an effective circumference comprising a circumference of a cross sectional area at least partially defined by material forming the shaft; a first opening apparatus operable to cause first expansion of the open end and of an effective circumference of at least part of the shaft; a second opening apparatus disposed on the shaft on a second side of the shaft, the second side being at least approximately opposed to a location of the first opening apparatus on the shaft, the second opening apparatus being operable to cause a second expansion of the open end and of the effective circumference, the second expansion being at least partially additive with the first expansion such that the first expansion and second expansion in combination exceed a maximum extent of the first expansion.
 2. An article of footwear as in claim 1, wherein the first and second opening apparatuses are operable in concert to configure the article of footwear to accept the lower extremity even when the lower extremity is at least one of bulkier, less flexible, and weaker than a second lower extremity of the wearer.
 3. An article of footwear as in claim 1, wherein the first expansion comprises separation of two first opposed edges of the first opening apparatus.
 4. An article of footwear as in claim 1, wherein the second expansion comprises separation of two second opposed edges of the second opening apparatus.
 5. An article of footwear as in claim 1, wherein the second opening apparatus comprises a zipper having two flexible strips of material carrying teeth configured to engage and disengage under the action of a slider.
 6. An article of footwear as in claim 5, wherein the two flexible strips of material are respectively attached to the two second opposed edges such that, when the second opening apparatus is in a closed or nearly closed position, the two second opposed edges are brought into sufficient proximity to at least partially hide the two flexible strips of material and the teeth.
 7. An article of footwear as in claim 5, wherein the two flexible strips of material are respectively attached to the two second opposed edges such that, when the second opening apparatus is in a closed or nearly closed position, the two second opposed edges remain separated by a flexible gap configured to accommodate one or more protuberances on the lower extremity.
 8. An article of footwear as in claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises a gusset that increases the effective circumference of the open end when the first opening apparatus and the second opening apparatus are both in a closed or nearly closed position, the increasing of the effective circumference being sufficient to accommodate one or more protuberances on the lower extremity.
 9. A method comprising: opening a first opening apparatus of an article of footwear to cause first expansion of an open end of a shaft of the article of footwear and of an effective circumference of at least part of the shaft; opening a second opening apparatus disposed on the shaft on a second side of the shaft that is at least approximately opposed to a location of the first opening apparatus on the shaft, the opening of the second opening apparatus causing second expansion of the open end of the shaft and of the effective circumference, the second expansion being at least partially additive with the first expansion such that the first expansion and second expansion in combination exceed a maximum extent of the first expansion; inserting a lower extremity of a wearer through the expanded open end of the shaft of the article of footwear such that an end or support surface of the lower extremity contacts a foot bed of the article of footwear; and operating the first and second opening apparatuses to at least partially reverse the first and second expansions, respectively, of the open end and of the effective circumference of the shaft.
 10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the first expansion comprises separation of two first opposed edges of the first opening apparatus.
 11. A method as in claim 9, wherein the second expansion comprises separation of two second opposed edges of the second opening apparatus.
 12. A method as in claim 9, wherein expansion of the open end by the loosening of the first opening apparatus and the second opening apparatus comprises separation of two first opposed edges of the first opening apparatus and of two second opposed edges of the second opening apparatus to expand an effective circumference of the shaft.
 13. A method as in claim 9, wherein the second opening apparatus comprises a zipper having two flexible strips of material carrying teeth configured to engage and disengage under the action of a slider.
 14. A method as in claim 13, wherein the two flexible strips of material are respectively attached to the two second opposed edges such that, when the second opening apparatus is in a closed or nearly closed position, the two second opposed edges are brought into sufficient proximity to at least partially hide the two flexible strips of material and the teeth.
 15. A method as in claim 13, wherein the two flexible strips of material are respectively attached to the two second opposed edges such that, when the second opening apparatus is in a closed or nearly closed position, the two second opposed edges remain separated by a flexible gap configured to accommodate one or more protuberances on the lower extremity.
 16. A method as in claim 9, wherein the shaft is disposed nearer to a heel section of a foot bed of the article of footwear than to a toe section of the foot bed, the shaft extending away from an upper of the article of footwear in a direction opposite from the foot bed such that the shaft is configured to extend up and encircle at least part of the lower extremity of the wearer, the upper being disposed opposite the foot bed and configured to at least partially enclose the lower extremity of the wearer when at least part of the lower extremity is in contact with the foot bed.
 17. A method as in claim 9, wherein the shaft comprises a gusset that increases the effective circumference of the open end when the first opening apparatus and the second opening apparatus are both in a closed or nearly closed position, the increasing of the effective circumference being sufficient to accommodate one or more protuberances on the lower extremity
 18. A method comprising: forming a slit in a shaft of a combat boot, the shaft being disposed nearer to a heel section of a foot bed of the combat boot than to a toe section of the foot bed, the shaft extending away from an upper of the combat boot in a direction opposite from the foot bed such that the shaft is configured to extend up and encircle at least part of the lower extremity of a wearer of the combat boot, the upper being disposed opposite the foot bed and configured to at least partially enclose the lower extremity of the wearer when at least part of the lower extremity is in contact with the foot bed, the shaft comprising at least part of a first opening apparatus; installing a second opening apparatus, the second opening apparatus being configured to control opening and closing of the slit; and adapting the slit to form two second opposed edges configured to resemble the appearance of a rear side of an unmodified shaft of an unmodified combat boot, the adapting comprising at least one of covering or otherwise affixing pieces of one or more of cloth, leather, an another material to at least one of the two second opposed edges such that the at least one of the two second opposed edges resembles a reinforcement of a seam on the rear side of the unmodified shaft of the unmodified combat boot.
 19. A method as in claim 18, wherein the slit is disposed at least approximately opposite to the first opening apparatus on the shaft.
 20. A method as in claim 18, further comprising modifying the shaft proximate to the open end, the modifying comprising adding at least one gusset that increases an effective circumference of the open end to accommodate one or more protuberances on the lower extremity. 